The Marriage of Celia

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20278, 12 April 1934, Page 16

The Marriage of Celia

——Author of ‘•Joan Fairlle's Cross-roads, *• “The Black Bretrayal.” “Love’s Tangle,” etc.

By

MADGE BARLOW.

CHAPTER VI. Robert and Celia, it was duly arranged, were to be married in London, and Sanaa bad offered Celia the hospitality of her flat, even curtailing her holiday to be with the girl, comforting her in bereavement, assisting her in preparing for the great event. At least, that was Sanaa's way of presenting her motive to Lennox, and lie accepted her c— r gratefully. Celia leant so much upon her, was so eager that he should accept. Mae disliked Sauna, and was not enthusiastic, but had no objection to the fiat as a temporary refuge for the brideelect. What he did object to was Robert's intimation that on trie evening of the wedding they two were to go to Ireland to wind up Mrs. Conor’s affairs, leaving Celia in charge of Miss I'ereivalc during their absence. “Do you mean to say you aren’t taking your wife with you?” he demanded. And Robert’s reply that Celia and Miss Pereivale thought it would be unwise for her to venture the journey in her grief-stricken condition brought Macs bushy brows down frewningly. '‘She’d find it too harrowing to meet old neighbours and have to speak of her mother,” Robert added. “The few days’ rest and quietness are absolutely necessary. She’s highly strung, and has had a severe and unexpected blow, remember. She requires a woman’s care, and is inclined to cling to Miss Pereivale.” “You are the one she should cling to.” “She does, she does, but the circumstances are exceptional.” “Couldn’t the wedding wait till we return?” “Celia won’t hear of a postponement.” “Then what’s to hinder you and her going on your honeymoon after the ceremony and letting me attend to Mrs. Conor’s trumpery affairs? Or you can attend to them yourself later. They’re of no importance. According to you, 6he died practically a pauper.” “Celia wishes me to dispose of the furniture and pay any bills that may be due in the locality out of the proceeds of the sale. She refuses to allow me to forward a cheque to a solicitor.” “And is so concerned about the tradespeople of Balbriggan that she delays her honeymoon in order that you in person may pay their tu’penny-lia’penny accounts. Dashed queer of her!” “You make it seem queer. Look, Mac, she’s in a low state of mind and body, and we must humour her. View this idea in the proper perspective, and you’ll quit cavilling. Celia wants to marry me at once, dear girl. She wants me to do her errand, and while I’m doing it she’ll be picking up strength for tht journey to Red Craigs, where our slightly deferred honeymoon is to be spent. That’i where she’s keeif to go—just home witl me. She’s been talking of it very sweetly in that shy way of hers—an adorable way which twists me round her little finger and won’t let me deny her anything. Mac, you’ve got to agree to Celia’s plan and Miss Percivale’s.” “Since you have agreed, my grousings; are immaterial. Speaking of Miss Pereivale, who is she? A summer acquaintance ?” “And an exceedingly kind friend. She’s an illustrator of books and magazines, well known in artistic circles, and does a lot of work for Hazlitt’s. You've heard of Mazagines-for-the-Million Hazlitt!” “I should say! Isn’t a nephew of his here? A penurious fellow eating the crumbs that fall from Uncle Dives’ table. The military chap prattled of him. Bv the bye, I’ve seen Miss Pereivale and young Avery whispering together in corners on several occasions. Not lovers, are they ? She's years his senior.” “They are not lovers, but she and Avery are fairly intimate owing to her business connection with Hazlitt’s.” McHaftie grunted an unintelligible rejoinder and lapsed into silence, musing on Dick’s surly glances when his chance straying® in the vicinity of the whisperers had disturbed them, on Dick’s undisguised hatred of Lennox, which Lennox •Lid not seem to notice. The speeding of the marriage was driving Avery into a state of desperation, ?ad his pent emotions found a confidante i In Sanna, whoso sympathetic probings invited confidences. He left nothing untold which concerned Celia and himself. Under affectionate pressure, Celia was equally indiscreet regarding Dick and her own mixed feelings and self-questionings, and her desire to marry Robert quickly lost she should be tempted to break her promise to her mother. Having squeezed them dry, Sauna began to think Robert not wholly lost to her, and set about Improving the occasion. To Avery she pledged her support, and opportunity to plead his cause in her flat in Lisle Mansions up to the last moment. To Celia she spoke eloquently of the beauty of love matches and the sin of keeping promises which made one a traitor to love. She could have betrayed the girl to Lennox—would have if she had not sensed that men are all alike in one respect: their appetite for possession is whetted by rivalry. She had no grounds for supposing Lennox to be the rule’s exception. He would probably take a Celia sacrificially willing to be taken, and cold-shoulder the meddler who had opened his eyes. Wasn’t Dick twice as crazy over Celia now that the wedding was being rushed and Ills prayers and arguments railed to shake her resolution? With his aid Sanna counted on wearing down the girl's resistance. He had ceased to talk of waiting; was alia me to wrest her from Robert and seal her his. “Let’s risk it on four quid a week, darling, darling!” he besought her, intruding indecently on her sorrow, seizing every advantage her weakness and loneliness presented. And she would answer, “I can’t listen! I mustn’t listen!” and from him tc encounter Sanna’s soft-voiced but relentless persuasions. “You do love Dick, and you’ll be miserable with Lennox. Dick is your fitting mate, and you know he is. Choose him while choice is yours, and I'll use influence to gain him promotion. Josh Hazlitt is. nice to me. If I were to beg Dick’s promotion as a favour he’d grant it.” Sauna and Avery, on either side of her, coaxing and insisting, almost convinced her that in fulfilling her rash promise she was sowing the seed of n harvest of regrets. If she were, how could she endure the reaping time? It hurt her to hurt Dick, jolliest of playfellows and companions. Was that a proof of love? Was the fact that Sanna’s pleadings and his stirred a responsive chord in her thrilled heart another proof ? The thought of belonging to Robert didn't thrill, it scared. Yet he was good I to her. all goodness and kindness, am! I she tried to be to him everything his

affianced wife should be; did it so effectually that he never suspected she had to try. Their final days at the Beverley drew to a close with alarming rapidity, and Celia was still torn between inclination and resolve not to yield to it when the London express whirled them out of the seaside town. Dick had gone tße night before, in a violent temper, after bitter upbraiding® which whitened and pinched her face. . She and Sanna, Robert and Mac, travelled in company. Sanna wished Mac a thousand miles away. Resentful of his habit of studying her, she styled him “the watchdog,” and her manner to him was as disagreeable as she dared make it. On reaching St. Pancras, Robert said he had ordered a table to be reserved for a dinner party of four at the Midland Grand, where he and McHaftie purposed engaging rooms; but Sanna promptly negatived the proposal, and bade him see to the delivery of the luggage. Celia, she declared, was exhausted, and ought to go straight to the flat and to bed. “Are you very tired, Miss Conor?” Mac asked pointedly. “I —I think I am,” she faltered. “Under Miss Percivale’s thumb, oi shares her anxiety to be rid of us,” he commented inwardly. Sanna raced them to the cab ranks. Robert hoped she might invite them to look in for a few minutes that night, and he was disappointed. He could come in the forenoon, she said, curtailing the adieux. He snatched a kiss, had a few words with Celia, and the taxi started. “Managing lady, Miss Pereivale,” Macgrimaced. “She's careful of Celia,” replied glum Robert. “Astonishingly careful. It wouldn’t have harmed Miss Conor to eat her dinner with us. We'll have a taxi as well.” “But we are putting up at the Midland.” “Xot on your life! We'll select out digs nearer to Lisle Mansions; next door to the flat if we can, you great goat!” “Why am I a great goat'” “Because you can’t help it,” said Mac,, irascibly. “You were born one.” (To be continued daily.)